Zal at the King's Court

Then word reached the king that Zal, son of Sam, had come riding along the road. All the great chiefs, the marks of royal power, rode out to welcome him. When he drew near the court, they quickly opened a path for him to the king. As he approached the king, he bowed to the ground, kissed it, and praised the throne. For a while he kept his face pressed to the dust, until the gracious king gave him his heart. He ordered that Zal's face be wiped clean of dust and sprinkled with musk. Zal came before the noble king's throne, and the lofty ruler asked after him: 'How have you fared, brave and generous warrior, on this hard road through wind and dust?' He said, 'Under your glory all is well; beside you every hardship turns to joy.' The king took the warrior's letter from him, and smiled, glad and bright of soul. When he had read it, he answered thus: 'You have added a long grief to my heart.' 'Yet with this heartfelt letter, which old Sam wrote out of the sorrow of his heart,' 'though it leaves my heart heavy, I decide I will not fret over great matters or small.' 'I will arrange things and fulfill all your wishes, if this is what will bring you peace.' 'For a while, stand firm in gladness, until I settle your affair with sound judgment.' The cooks brought in a table of gold, and the king of kings sat down with Zal the fair. He commanded that all the famous men take their places at the royal feast, the whole company. When they had finished with the king's table, they set out another place for the wine. When the wine was drunk, the renowned son of Sam mounted his horse with its golden bridle. He rode off and measured out the length of the night, his heart full of thought, his lips full of words. At dawn he came, his belt fastened, before the victorious Manuchehr. The king of the world blessed him, and when Zal turned away, he praised him in secret.